More vessels suspected of carrying North Korean coal

General cargo ship Jin Long, (IMO 8730986) departed from Nakhodka and docked in Pohang on August 4th, carrying cargol believed to be North Korean coal. The vessel returned to Nakhodka Port on August 7th. The vessel had been accused before of bringing North Korean coal to the South, on October 27th 2017.

Jin Long had freely entered the ports of Pohang, Incheon, Jinhae, and Janghang 20 times since last October.

The Jin Long is one of a trio of ships, along with the Sky Angel and Rich Glory, reported to have carried North Korean coal. The coal in the Jin Long was marked as Russian, and the ship reportedly passed through customs after submitting a certificate of origin. Jin Long was initially scheduled to depart late on August 8th, but the alleged dropping-off of North Korean coal was made public through the report on US-government-funded radio station Voice of America. Soon after the broadcast the vessel changed its schedule and left for Russia during the afternoon of August 8th.